Financial advisor and expert, Lynnette Khalfani Cox, shares her advice for managing your money in the new year.

Money. We can all agree that we need more of it nowadays. The problem is, many have a harder time keeping it. This year, professional finance advisors are telling us to save, budget and prioritize. Lynetter Khalfani Cox is saying the same thing.

Her expertise comes from experience as she had once found herself in $100,000 in credit card debt in 2001. She made up her mind and managed to pay it all off in three years and turned her financial life around. This led her to write her first book, the New York Times bestseller Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom. In 2010, the debt crisis led to write an updated version of her book to address the national economic downturn.

Cox aka The Money Coach(r) has since made appearances on television and radio including the Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, Dr. Phil, The Tyra Banks Show and Good Morning America.

She has been a busy Money Coach as she has recently made appearances this week on CBS-‘The Talk’; Fox News; WPIX-NY Morning Show and many more. Cox had time to speak with the Sentinel about what folks should be doing with their money and tools for better handling their finances.

“I think a big focus for a lot of folks should be three specific areas: paying down debt, improving credit ratings, and learning to become disciplined savers,” said Cox.

Despite the past few years being tough, and the economy being in flux, Cox feels we’re reaching the end of the tunnel. She hopes to impart some financial tools that will help many come to the end of their financial tunnel.

“Know what your cash flow looks like every month,” said Cox. “Have a very good handle on your budget.

She described financial planning in stages: laying a foundation with having a budget, maintaining your savings account and knowing your credit rating along with achieving a good FICO credit score.

Cox has 3 tips for a better financial new year:

-a financial boot camp

-create a financial goals poster board

-using a”Think-Do” method for 30-days

For serious folks out there, Cox advises joining a 4-week personal finance boot camp. You can currently join one on her site at MyMoneyCircles.com. It’s a free way to begin clearing up your money situation. It takes just 20 minutes a few times a week and is the jumpstart most need right now.

The next step is to create a financial poster board, which will help you to imagine the goals you wish to accomplish in the new year.

For example, saving for your retirement, you could cut out a picture of you and paste it on a picture of your ideal vacation spot or saving money for a new car, get pictures of your dream car and put it on your poster board. The idea is to have constant visual reminders of why you’re being “good” financially.

Last and definitely, not least, develop a healthier thought process and follow-through. A “think-Do” method is about overcoming laziness and procrastination.

Basically, this method is about handling you business. Everybody knows what their priorities are: bills, house notes, and car payments. What’s going to keep life functioning for you and your family, you handle that first.

“Even if you have to start small, recognize [saving] can reap huge benefits,” said Cox. It pays off so great.

“On the debt front-paying more than the minimum payment, negotiate with your creditors [and] using online tools. You should also ‘shift’ in terms of lifestyle expenses-things that your paying money [for] unnecessarily [instead look] for things you can get [for] free or at low cost.

“[Lastly] get that credit report. Stop procrastinating and stop being scared to see what your going to see on your credit files. As a consumer, under the fair credit reporting act, you have a right by law to see your credit report and to get one copy from [a credit report company] every 12 months. It’s vitally important to know.”

Cox has a message of hope that she wants to share with people who may be struggling to figure out their financial situation.

“I’ve lived in L.A. everywhere from Compton, to the Baldwin Hills area, [to West. L.A]…and last lived in Inglewood” said Cox. I don’t care what your financial problems are, what you’ve been through-you can feel like you barely hanging on by your finger nails.

“You can be at your lowest level… and you know what-you can recover. There really is such a thing as a financial after life. Keep the faith and don’t give up. Just try to do what’s in your power and in your control to do and let God do the rest.”